April 1, 2011

Top News

Superintendent Tata holds first weekly news briefing

Superintendent Tony Tata held his first weekly briefing with the news media today. Tata plans to meet with the news media each Friday morning to share vital information related to the Wake County Public School System and to provide reporters access to ask him any questions they may have.

Tata began the briefing by sharing with reporters his initial impressions of the school district. Having visited 63 schools within his first 61 days on the job, along with meeting with members of the community in town hall meetings and in their living rooms, Tata said he is impressed with what he has seen so far.

"First and foremost, everywhere I see highly professional teachers, teacher assistants and school staff, cafeteria managers, custodians, and I see principals and assistant principals who are instructional leaders in their schools, and, most importantly, I see fully engaged students learning every day," he said. "The one searing impression in my mind is that this is an excellent school system."

You can hear an audio podcast of the news briefing here.

Tata Reviews 90-day plan

Superintendent Tata reviewed the highlights of the 90-day plan the school board approved on his second day on the job.

“I feel like I am on track with that plan,” said Tata. “Most of the things on there are completed, or underway. I am confident that we will continue on pace with that plan.”

Phase 1	January	getting to know the community.
Phase 2	February	listening and learning and developing the budget.
Phase 3	March	listening and learning continued, began department statistical reviews and took over responsibility for student assignment plan.

Tata said in Phase 2, there were some key metrics.

“We had a very successful board retreat,” said Tata. “We developed a mission, vision and core beliefs and they were unanimously approved. That was seven different items that received 9-0 votes that I felt were very important toward this very good board’s consensus building efforts.”

In Phase 2, Tata presented a budget that protects classrooms and helps strategically position our schools to be high demand schools and helps us to operate more efficiently. Tata noted the state has not determined their budget yet, so the school district is waiting on a finalized state budget and then will adjust accordingly.

In Phase 2, a Broad Foundation consultant conducted a communications audit that will assist the school system in enhancing our outreach capability, our communications capability and how we will engage the community. Broad Foundation consultants will provide two additional audits. An organizational audit is underway and a third audit is just beginning on how well we are attacking the achievement gap.

In Phase 3, Tata began a series of statistical reviews with Central Services departments to improve accountability and took over responsibility for the development of the student assignment plan.

“Our first one last month was Human Resources,” said Tata. “Some of the information that we looked at is right now 50.5 percent of our students are minority and 49.5 percent are Caucasian. By contrast, our teaching force is 85 percent Caucasian, 12 percent African American and roughly three percent Hispanic. As a result of reviewing those statistics, I have asked my Human Resources Department to begin a series of targeted, strategic recruiting efforts and other efforts to ensure that we are a friendly workplace for all ethnicities. I want to make sure that we are hiring in volume the right types of folks so that all of our children have the right kinds of role models as they grow and learn. “

You can see the 90-day plan here.

Tata Discusses Student Assignment

Superintendent Tata said he intends to deliver a completed student assignment plan to the board for approval by June 20. "I met with the task force yesterday, and we are making good progress," he said. "We are in a good spot."

"I created a student assignment task force made up of a cross-functional, very diverse group whose single purpose is to create a long-term, strategic student assignment plan for this county," he said. "They are looking at six courses of action along with 15 evaluative criteria. The courses of action cover a broad spectrum of possibilities. They are in the midst of evaluating those courses of action to winnow them down to one, or two or three options that we will bring forward to the board and the community for input."

Superintendent Tata types in a response in his first virtual town hall meeting.

Superintendent Tata responds to reporter question in his first weekly news briefing.

More News

Tata Outlines Steps for Bus Safety

Superintendent Tata asked the Transportation Department to conduct a stand down for safety, holding face-to-face meetings with drivers to put them on notice that we have to change things. All drivers in each of our 15 districts will be participating in mandatory monthly safety training meetings. We are stepping up our accountability by strengthening our Transportation Review Board that investigates every accident. We are developing a matrix that will guide consequences for the various types of accidents and greater focus on monitoring accidents of all levels.

"Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students, and I am convinced that we can do better," he said.  

Tata announced today that he is asking the public to help the school system hold itself accountable by launching a system empowering citizens to share any concerns they may have regarding our bus transportation service.

"They can call, or they can e-mail, but either way, we need to hear from them," he said.

You can read a news release on bus safety here.

Tata Creating STEM and Global Schools Networks

Superintendent Tata shared details of the STEM and Global Schools Networks that are a part of the budget he presented last month. He told school principals yesterday that applications for schools to join either the STEM Schools Collaborative Network or the Global Schools Network are now available. Tata will announce the two high schools, two middle schools and six elementary selected to join the networks in mid-April.

"I set aside roughly $1 million to help schools that are struggling with dwindling enrollments and to also expand our network of schools with global and technological capabilities," he said.

The STEM Schools Collaborative Network is of a group of schools with dedicated programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math. These schools partner with the NC STEM Collaborative. WCPSS currently has 11 schools with a STEM theme, but needs five more to complete the network.

The Global Schools Network consists of schools dedicated to programs promoting global awareness, language learning and international exchange. These schools have a partnership with World View as well as other districts that are part of the NC Global Schools Network. WCPSS currently has 12 schools with a global theme and has availability for five additional schools.

Tata Holds First Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Superintendent Tata held his first virtual town hall meeting today. More than 320 people viewed the live discussion and 19 questions.

The first question was:

Hello Mr. Tata. Thank you for holding this meeting online. WCPSS magnets offer an enriched learning experience, both with regard to diversity and academics. Would you please share your thoughts on whether the attractiveness of magnets would be maintained at the current level going forward? Particularly, is there any thought being given to steps that might diminish the current level of academics delivered by the magnet program? Thank you and best wishes in your role as Supdt.

Superintendent Tata responded:

There are no plans to diminish the magnet program. As part of the student assignment task force we are reevaluating the purpose of the magnet program to ensure that its goals meet the community’s needs as we move forward with a comprehensive plan that will serve all students. Magnets will be a central part of our student assignment plan and will remain attractive.

Tata closed the chat asking about interest in the frequency of the chats and about interest in his tweeting the events of his day.

You can review the Virtual Town Hall meeting here.